The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1887-11-24


had superseded Gen. Beauregard. and on the
cd Of July, with the army of the Mississip-
pi, numbering s., 900 men, went to Chatta-
nooga- Gems. Van Dorm and Price were left
in command OF the troops then in north Mis-
sissippi, with instructions to operate against
the Federals in that region, and especially to
guard against their junction with Buell. in
Middle Tennessee. Each OF these Confederate
leaders commanded q force about 1900
strong Grants army, though scattered and
diminished by the subtraction before referred
70, had possession of Corinth, but was likewise
obliged to hold the railroads from that place
north to Columbus, KY, which, on account Of
the low water in the Tennessee, he had made
his base Of supplies.
Matters remained comparatively quiet I'M
til about Sept. 2, when Gen. Price learned
from Gen. Bragg that Rosecrans was about
to move across the Tennessee and join the
army Of Gen. Buell. Price Immediately
moved from Tupelo to Iuka, point twenty
one miles east of Corinth, which he occupied
without material resistance on the 18th.
Learning here that Rosecrans was between
the two points last named, he sent dispatch
to Van Dorm to join him. and, assuming
the offensive, attack Corinth. During this
interval Grant, who was watching both gen.
erals, made his preparations 20 destroy Price
before they could concentrate, and then go
back to Corinth and protect it against Van
Dorm. Accordingly Rosecrans was ordered
to promptly attack Iuka from the south,
while Gen. Ord, who had been hurried from
Bolivar, was to attack Price from the north.
The plan Of battle involved the crushing of
the latter between an upper and neither mill
stone. Ord had 5000 men and Rosecrans
5000. Ord's column, accompanied by Grant,
reached huntsville, six miles from Iuka, on
the 18th, and arrangements were made for
the combined attack at 4:30 the following
morning. Rosecrans. however, having been
detained by the condition Of the roaGs, sent
word after midnight that he was still twenty
miles distant and could not arrive before the
next afternoon. Thereupon Ord was directed
to remain quiet until he heard firing In the
south, which would indicate the arrival of
his coadjutor.
Price, who was fully aware OF these move
ments, had posted his men In an advantage
Gus position on hill commanding the road,
and when the head OF the marching column
of Rosecrans appeared, poured In terribly
destructive fire. The Federals, checked and
hampered by the broken ground and dense
underground, were unable to deploy their
full force, and in consequence were thrown
into confusion and driven back with the loss
of nine guns. The fighting continued until
dark and was bitter and bloody. RosecrenS
reported his losses at IA killed, 500 wounded,
and 40 missing; total, 7s2, nearly 200 of
which were in Hamilton's division, which
brought only $500 men into action. The
Confederate loss, as reported by Price, was
SO killed and 408 wounded. Among the for
mer was Gen. Henry Little, who commanded
one of the divisions
Owing to the contrary direction Of the
wind the sound Of the firing was not heard
by Gems. Grant and Ord, who were awaiting
the signal on the opposite side OF Iuka, and q
dispatch having miscarried, the news OF the
battle was unknown to them until the next
morning. During the night Price reiterated
in southeasterly direction by the only ave-
nue. left open, and shortly efterward, on the
25th, effected q Junction with Van Dorm in
accordance with the agreement which had
been made between them